Share your journey, travel at reasonable fare

Paying hefty amount to reach the Dabolim International Airport in a cab would be a thing of the past, as the management of Pavan yellow black taxi association has rolled out a new pool ride or taxi sharing service through which four people intending to go to the airport can do so by paying Rs 205 each for a journey from the KTC bus stand at Panaji.

Those intending to undertake journey to the airport have to visit the prepaid taxi counter at the KTC bus stand and hire a taxi either on sharing basis or opt for an individual ride to the airport. There are around 23 yellow black taxis offering such services.

The carpooling facility, which has been started recently from the Panaji KTC bus stand, is yet to gain popularity. The taxi sharing service is available from 8 am to 8 pm.

If the passenger wants to travel individually to the airport, then he/she will be charged Rs 820 and if there are co-passengers, the actual fare will be divided among all the passengers. Passengers travelling to the airport are being charged Rs 1,200 by other taxi operators.

Asked what made the association take up such an initiative, president of Panaji Pavan yellow black taxi association, Gurudas Pai, said there was a growing demand among travellers for such facilities.

“While travelling to the airport, we have seen that most of the passengers, mainly tourists, ask for taxi services on sharing basis. I, along with 23 black and yellow cab owners, started working on the project and decided to start taxi sharing service, wherein the customers can find people, who are willing to share a cab to the airport,” he said.

“Taxi sharing fare is much lower than the full

fare. It costs Rs 205 each for four passengers to reach the airport. It’s not just a matter of savings, it will also keep the extra cars off the roads. However, the option to travel individually is still available and those who do not want to wait for too long for co-passengers can travel by paying Rs 820,” Pai said.

The yellow black taxi operators had also started taxi sharing services to Baga and Calangute for Rs 100 per passenger but it did not evoke a good response, as most of the passengers were couples, who did not want strangers to be seated next to them.